Vehicle bed locking arrangement



J. L. BRACK VEHICLE BED LOCKING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed March 3l, 1945 Jan. 1, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 1, 1952 J. BRAcK VEHICLE BED LOCKING ARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 3l, 1943 Jan. 1, 1952 1 L, BRACK 2,580,509

VEHICLE BED LOCKING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed March 3l, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. l, 1N952 VEHICLE LEED ILQGKINGABBANGEMENT Joseph L. Braak; .Qhicagm Ill., assignpr to Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Chicago, Ill.,` a corporation of Delaware `Originali application March 31.v 1943,. Serial N` $81`,258.fow .Patent No. 2,443,552, dated `June 15,1948. Divided and wie @limitante .22,

19.4.5, .Serial N9- 6.7111481 (ci. einer) 6 Claims. l e

This invention relates to railway sleeping cars and has for its primary purpose the provision qf a Vfolding bed adapted tobe folded tlush within a wall and having releasable locking means for securing the bed in the wa'll.

The principal object 'or the invention is realized in the provision of safetylocking mechanism for .the bed aording releasable means for locking the bed in fuily retracted vposition `within the -wall and having a releasable safety catch at an intermediate open position of the bed which, when engaged, prevents further opening movement of the bed toward extended position until `the catch is released by manipulation of the lock operating mechanism on the bed. i

The foregoing and other objects ofY the invention are attained by the bed construction and locking arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: A

Fig. 1 is a general perspective view of the folding bed arrangement with an associated seat coacting therewith and showing the bedin vertical fully retracted position where it is securely maintained by the locking mechanism of this invention, and having portions of the bed `broken away better to reveal the general loction of the pivotal mounting and the details of the latching or locking arrangement for the bed, normally concealed within the bed structure, and the method of operating the mechanism by means of the operating handle exposed on the surface of the bed;

Fig. 2 also is a perspective view but to larger scale with portions of the bed broken away to reveal the details of the bed locking and safety lock arrangement at `the side wall and clearly' revealing the projectable rod arrangement lfor engaging the bed lockinglatc-h to release the bed from the fully retracted position and for engaging the safety locking latch on the side wall to release the bed at the intermediate safety position and showing the spring for retracting the rod `mech anism and the striker plate on the face of bed in line with the safety lock for `pressing the latch to retracted position to enable the `forward edge of the bed to pass;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 showing the bed locking mechanism mounted Within the reinforcing easing of the bed structure with the bed in fully closed position and with the safety lock on the side wall in a position to engage the bed .at anintermediate open position thereof;

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal sectlonalvlew .taken through bed, side `wall and locking mechanism on the line 44 lof Fig. -3 showing -thebed locked in fully closed positicn by the locking latch on the side wall of the bed recess with the projectable, spring retracted rod in position to press the latch from engagement with the receptacle in the side wall ofthe bed to release the' bed for opening movement; and

Fig. 5 also is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 4 taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3 and showing .the safety locking latch on the side wall adapted to enter the receptacle in the side Wall of the bed in an intermediate open position of the bed and aisoreleasable by the proj ectable rod pressing it from engagement in the receptacle to enable the bed to pass when it is desired to move the bed to fully open position. The relation of the striker plate to the safety locking latch is clearly -illustrated in this view. s

This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 481,258, led March 31, 1943, for Vehicle Bed Arrangement, which became Patent N0. 2,443,552;` on June 15, 1948.

yIn the drawings, I il represents a railway car having a room IVI including a side Wall I2 and a cross partition I4. The partition I4 is relatively deep in a direction normal to the plane of the partition to provide a recess or alcove 32 opening into the room for the reception of `a folding bed 35 and its associated bedding. At that side facing in the room, the partition is provided with a plane surface 33 about the bed Ialcove and with which the bottom wall 34 of the bed is adapted to fit substantially `flush.

The bed 35`comprises a box-like structure including the bottom closing Wall 34 and continuous side rail members 37 which extend along both sides of the bed and are curved about the corners of the'lbed to provide an 4end footboard member. The end footboard is of increased heightY with respect to the side rail members. A buit-up box section frame structure 38 extends entirely around the bed to provide the rigidity necessary to strengthen thebed against distortion in service. The bed -frarne is further reinforced intermediate the length of the folding bed by means of a box section structure 4 5 extending between and con.-

`necting the side rail structures 38 of the bed frame and comprised cf a flanged channel mem.- ber 4B secured with its web against the bottom wal134 and having a closing plate `.ll extending across ite flanges t9 complete .the .199x Settim A reinforcing .Channel-.Shaped plete 4? see Fia .3) is nested within. the flanges .channel 46 et the center of the bed to provide a mounting for actuatinsmechanismofa bed locking arrangement hereinafter miie described. lAll of thema-1m11--` tails of which form no part of the present inven- U tion.

In order resiliently to support a mattress 92,"

the bed is provided with a flexible mattress supporting member 90 whichsin the form shown,`

comprises a flexible and resilient membrane secured over a rigidifying frame 9| which is secured to the upper surface of the bed frame structure 38 at all four sides of the bed with the mat-` tress supporting member 90 supported in spaced relation to the bottom wall 34 of the bed. A seat and folding backrest arrangement |50 and I5|-` is cooperatively associated with the folding bed and is adapted automatically to be folded to, an inoperative position when the bed is lopened to operative position and returned to operative seatingvposition when the bed is closed to its fully retractedposition in the bed alcove 32, as shown in Fig. 1.

The folding bed 35 is adapted to be locked in fully closed position by mechanism which is manually releasable when it is desired to open the bed for use. The mechanism for locking the bed (see Fig. 4) comprises a pair of automatically operating spring pressed latches ||I mounted, one in each side wall of the bed alcove 32 and so located as to engage keepers |2 in the respective side rails 31 of the bed. Each latch I I I is pivoted at I I3 in a retainer member I I4 which is secured in the side wall of the bed alcove. Spring ||5 between the latch and retainer member urges the latch 'at all times in an outward direction automatically to engage the keeper I I2 when the 'bed is pressed into the alcove. Stop i I6 on the latch limits its outward movement. The latch III is so positioned in the bed alcove in regard to its pivotal action as to be retracted by the passage of the bed into the alcove and then to spring into the keeper ||2 as the bed reaches nal position to present a shoulder acting as a stop to prevent outward movement of the bed until the latch I is manually retracted by releasing mechanism actuated by the occupant of the room.

The releasing mechanism for retracting the latches III is enclosed within the box structure land is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The mechanism includes a center fulcrum lever |20 plvotally mounted at |2| on a xed pivot which is secured to the reinforcing channeliplate 48 in the flanged channel 46. -Latch release rods |22 and |23 are pivotally connected to the fulcrum lever |20 at opposite sides of the pivotal support |2| and extend in opposite directions through the box structure 45 across the bed to enter the respective keepers ||2 in the side rails 31 of the bed. As best shown in Fig. 4, the respective latch rods |22 and |23 each pass through a bearing member |24 mounted in the keepers ||2 and through which they are adapted to reciprocate in the operation of releasing the latches The rods |22 and |23 are each provided with a shoulder |26 against which `a compression spring |25 is adapted to seat and which exerts a force against the respective bearings |24 and the keepers ||2 normally to maintain'the latch rods withdrawn from engagement with the latches The latch rods are actuated by means of an op` son manipulating the bed from within the room. The operating handle extends through the bottom wall 34 of the bed into the interior of the box 45 enclosing the latch releasing mechanism where it is provided with a lever arm |28 which is operatively connected with the lower extremity of the center fulcrum lever |20 by means of a strut |29 through the medium of which the latch releasing rods are actuated against the resistance of springs |25 from the handle |21.

With Athe bed 35 disposed `vertical within the V alcove 32 and locked by the engagement of latches within keepers ||2, latch rods |22 and |23 are normally retracted b-y action of springs |25 with thefulcrum lever |20 .disposed at an angle to one sidev of the-vertical, as shown in Fig. l,

with ro'd |23V connected thereto above the pivot I2| and rod |22 connected below the pivot. The lever arm |28. connected to the lower extremity of the fulcrum lever by strut |29, is disposed at an angle to the opposite side of the vertical from that of the fulcrum lever, with the operating handle |21 disposed horizontally at the opposite side of its pivot point from the direction of inclination of the lever arm and between such pivot point and the connection of the lever |28 to the fulcrum by the strut |29. When it is desired to withdraw the bed from the alcove, the operator grasps the handle |21 and rotates it contraclockwise (in the embodiment illustrated) approximately sixty-eight degrees, which action, by means of the lever arm |28 and connection |29, rotates the fulcrum lever |20 clockwise to thrust the rods |22 and |23 in opposite directions into the respective keepers and thereby engage the latches and press them from engagement with the keepers ||2 until the keepers pass the latches, after which the springs |25 will return the entire mechanism to normal when the handle |21 is released, and after ythe bed has passed, springs ||5 will return latches to normally extended position. By the opposite inclination of the levers |20 and 28, an operating stroke of maximum length may be obtained fully to retract the latches in all circumstances Without any binding between the various parts of the mechanism. The operating handle |21, in

addition to actuating the release mechanism, is.

utilized also to pull the bed out of the alcove, and in order to prevent any possible distortion, is provided with a guide |30 for the free end of the handle, which is adapted to operate through a track in the guide during actuation of the releasing mechanism. The guide is secured to the face of the bed 35 and comprises a segment of a circle so located-as to include the full operating range of the handle. When the bed is pushed fully into the alcove 32, the latches under inuence of springs ||5, will automatically engage the keepers ||2 to retain the bed in retracted position.

In the type of railway car room in which the bed of this invention is adapted to be used, it is customary for the occupants of the various rooms, upon arising, to push the bed 35 into the alcove 32 in order to proceed about the preparation of their toilet, but sometimes due to disarrangement of the bedding, the bed is prevented from entering the alcove to such extent as to be retained by the latches which, if not engaged in the keepers ||2,"leaves the bed free to move toward the fully open position. Inorder to prevent the bed, under such circumstances, from being thrown toward open position suddenly by reason of jar-` ring impacts arising from operation of the car in a train. a `safety catch is provided l,which :is dpted U Prevent the bed fIQm mQVllg any farther than an intermediate Vposition without continued or repeated manipulation of the bed operating handle |21.

As best `shown in VFica l, 2, 3 and` an intermediate safety catch is located ,upon the side wal-1 |,2 of the carin position to engage a keeper |36 disposed in the side rail 31 of the bed as the bed moves out ofthe alcove 32. The safety ,Catch is YSillllar ,in `operation `to the `,locking latch and is mounted in Ya `housing |31 which is secured upon the side wall `|.2 but otherwisefunctions exactly like the locking latch, with a spring |38 for urging the catchoutwardly, automatically to engage the keeper y| 36 as the bed moves to a position where the keeper .is aligned with the safety catch whereby to prevent further movement `of the bed toward open position. The safety catch is tat `all times normally disposed within the hath of the bed under influence `of spring |38, as best illustrated in Fig. 5, so that in order to get the face of the bed past the shoulder presented by the catch, it is necessary to provide an inclined strike plate V|35) on the `face `of the bed in a position to engage the safety catch on its inclined surface as the bed is opened to press the `catch out of the way when the bed approaches the point of engagement therewith. When the bed reaches a point where the keeper |35 in the `side Vrail thereof coincides with the catch member, the latter member enters the keeper under pressure of spring |38 thereby positively `to prevent further opening `movement of the bed. The catch |35 is disposed upon the side wall l2 at a point sumciently removed from the fully closed position of the bed to enable `anyone operating the bedrto push the bed at least this far in the closing movement in spite of any binding action caused by disarranged bedding `and is located in the path of the `arc described by the keeper |33 so that when the bed is pushed to the intermediate position or beyond, the catch is automatically operable.

When it is desired to open the `bed 35 for use, the safety catch |35 may be prevented from entering the keeper |36 whereby to enable the bed to pass the catch without pause, in moving to the horizontal open position of the bed. The

keeper |36 is exactly like the keepers ||2 and has a bearing |40 through which a release rod |4| for the safety catch reciprocates and which is adapted to be extended through the keeper to retract the catch |35 in the same manner as the latch rods |22 and |23 are used to release the latches The rod 4 together with the keeper |36, as best shown in Fig.`2, is .disposed above the level of the box structure enclosing the release mechanism for the latches but `is inclined downwardly at |42 and passes `through an opening |43 in the upper wall of the box to engage the latch rod |22 with which it is integrally connected at |44 by welding.` The rod |4| therefore operates simultaneously with and is projected and retracted by the latch release rod |22, with rod |23, from the operating handle |21, and is adapted to enter the keeper |36 when the handle |21 is manipulated to project the rods |22 and |23 into the keepers I2 for releasing the latches l I, and with the rod |4| thus blocking the keeper |36, if the operating handle is held in release position until the bed passes the safety catch |35, the catch will be prevented from en- 7""tering the keeper, wherefore the bed may traverse its full `opening movement without interruption. l Should :the bed loc in the intermediate mais tion with the catch |35 encased in :the keeper and it is desired :to move the bed to iullopen position, it is only necessary to operate the .handle |27 t0 project the rod |.4I whichpresses thecatch out Aof engagement and allows the bed to pass. If` the handle |21. after i actuation to .release latches is returned to normal position before the bed passes the catch |35, it will be necessary to vrepeat the operation of the `hamdle to release the safety catch. 'While the safety catch .has been illustrated and `described for actuation `by an auxiliary rod |4|, `it is entirely possible, where framing conditions of the car V,side v,flame .and side finish arrangements permit, for the safety catch to be so 4located on the zeide Wall l2 .as .to be' engageable with the. keeper I|2 .at that side of the bed and `releasable ,by the latch rod |22.

From the .foregoing it will be seen theta ,folding bed and seat arrangement :for railway cars has been provided wherein automa-tic locking mechanism is provided for `the bed in combination with safety mechanism `for preventing accidental displacement of the bed, with 4means for .f manually releasing the locking mechanism and rendering the safety mechanism inoperative when operating the bed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway car room of the type in which a bed is `pivotally mounted for swinging `movement between a rst terminal position extending horizontally from a room wall normal to ra stationary surface in the room and a second terminal position latched vertically retracted against said wall, the combination with said bed of safety means for preventing accidental falling of the bed to said first terminal position when in unlatched condition near said second terminal position comprising cooperating catch and keeper members one of which `is mounted on a side portion of the bed so as to `swing-through an arcuate path with movement of the bed between terminal positions and the other of which is mounted on said stationary surface at a point lon said path near the upper end thereof so that when the bed swings toward said first terminal position from unlatched condition near said second terminal position the members will become engaged to stop the bed at an intermediate position near said second terminal position, and manually operable means for disengaging said members to release the bed for completion of its movement to said first terminal position.

r2. In a railway car room of the type in which a bed is pivotally mounted at .one end portion for endwise swinging movement between a flrst terminal position extending horizontally from an alcove in a room wall normal to another wall adjacent to said alcove and a second terminal position latched vertically retracted within the alcove, the combination with said bed of safety means for preventing accidental falling of the bed to said rst terminal position when in -un latched condition near said second terminal positionV comprising `cooperating catch and keeper members one of which is mounted on a ,side por- Y tion of the bed so as to swing through an arcuate path with movement of the bed between terminal positions and the other of which is mounted on said other wall of the room at a point on said path near the upper end thereof so that when the bed swings toward said rst terminal position from unlatched condition near said second terminal position the members will become engaged to stop the bed at an intermediate position near said second terminal position, and manually operable means for disengaging said members to release the bed for completion of its movement to said first terminal position.

' '3. In a railway car room of the type in which a bed is pivotallymounted for swinging movementbetween a first terminal position extending horizontally from a room wall normal to a stationary surface in the room and a second terminal position latched vertically retracted against said wall, the combination with said bed of safety means for preventing accidental falling of the bed to said rst terminal position when in unlatched condition near said second terminal position comprising a keeper mounted on a side portion of the bed so as to swing through an arcuate path with movement of the bed between terminal positions and a cooperating retractible catch normally projecting from said surface at a point on said path near the upper end thereof so that when the bed swings toward said rst terminal position from unlatched condition near said second terminal position the catch willbecome engaged with the keeper to stop the bed at an intermediate position near said second terminal position, and manually operable means mounted on the bed engageable with the catch to release the bed for completion of its movement to said first terminal position.

4. In a railway car room of the type in which a bed is pivotally mounted for swinging movement between a first terminal position extending horizontally from a room wall normal to a stationary surface in the room and second terminal position latched vertically retracted against said wall, the combination with said bed of safety means for preventing accidental falling of the bed to said rst terminal position when in unlatched condition near said second terminal positionv comprising a keeper mounted on a side portion of the bed so as to swing through an arcuate path with movement of the bed between terminal positions and a cooperating retractible catch normally projecting from said surface at a point on said path near the upper end thereof so that when the bed swings toward said rst terminal position from unlatched condition near said second terminal position the catch will become engaged with the keeper to stop the bed at an intermediate position near said second terminal position, and manually operable means mounted on the bed and projectible through the keeper for engagement with the catch to release the bed for completion of its movement to said first terminal position.

5. In a railway car room of the type in which a bed is pivotally mounted for swinging movement between a first terminal position extending horizontally from a room wall normal to a stationary surface in the room and a second terminal position latched vertically retracted against said wall, the combination with said bed of safety means for preventing accidental falling of the bed to said' iirst terminal position when in unlatched condition near said second terminal position comiii p'ris'ingl a keeper mounted on a side portion of the bed so as to swing through an arcuate path with movement of the bed between terminal positions and a cooperating retractible catch normally projecting from said surface at a point on said path near the upper end thereof so that when the bed swings toward said first terminal position from unlatched condition near said second terminal position the catch will become engaged with the keeper to stop the bed at an intermediate position near said second terminal position, an inclined strike plate mounted on the bed to engage the catch and retract the same for passage of the advancing edge of the bed, and manually operable means mounted on the bed and projectible through the keeper for retracting engagement with the catch on further advance of the bed in its swinging movement toward said iirst terminal position.

6. In a railway car room of the type in which a bed is pvotally mounted for swinging movement between a iirst terminal position extending horizontally from a room wall normal to a stationary surface in the room and a second terminal position in which the bed is held vertically retracted against said wall by manually releasable latching mechanism, the combination with said bed and latching mechanism of safety means for preventing accidental falling of the bed to said first terminal position when in unlatched condition near said second terminal position comprising cooperating catch and keeper members one of which is mounted on a side portion of the-bed so as to swing through an arcuate path with movement of the bed between terminal positions and the other of which is mounted on said stationary surface at a point on said path near the upper end thereof so that when the bed swings toward said first terminal position from unlatched condition near said second terminal position the members will become engaged to stop the bed at an intermediate position near said second terminal position, and means operatively connected to said manually releasable latching mechanism for disengaging said members to release the bed for completion of its movement to said first terminal position.

JOSEPH L. BRACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 343,348 Taylor June 8, 1886 598,841 Barton Feb. 8, 1898 764,842 Fauber July 12, 1904 819,686 Bankson May 1, 1906 1,358,209 Hoils Nov. 9, 1920 1,622,702 Brown Mar. 29, 1927 2,147,011 Crawford Feb. 14, 1939 2,310,548 Roethel Feb. 9, 1943 2,384,276 Burbridge Sept. 4, 1945 

